Player-piano-roll compressor



May 7, 1929. w. 1.. PATTON PLAYER PIANO ROLL COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 8, 1926 Inventor Patented May 7, 1929.

1 UNITED STATES 1,712,163 PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM LEE PATTON, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

PLAYER-PIANO-ROLL COMPRESSOR.

Application filed Novemh er Myinvention relates to improvements in devices for maintaining the music sheet oi a player piano roll tightly wound on the spool provided for the purpose.

The purpose of the device to provide a device in the nature of a compressor to tensionaly engage opposed side portions of the music sheet roll, whereby the sheet may be wound tightly upon the spool without any liability that the edge portions of the sheet will become mutilated.

The main object of the device is the provision of a compressor which may be conveniently secured to the piano structure ado jacent the piano roll, whereby the s2 tensionally engageable againstopposed of the roll for rcwindin or payin otl music strip without any liability ot dam thereto.

Another object resides in the simple manner of construction wa-ereby the same can be manufactured at a very low cost.

Still another object resides in the i that the same may be conveniently mean in the proper position in the player piano roll.

Other very novel objects and advantages will become apparent as the invention is ter understood from the specification and claims to follow.

In the drawing Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary iront elevation oi a. conventional player piano, showing the roll mounting with which my compressor is associated.

Fig. 2 represents a cross sectional view through the compressor and music sheet roll disclosing the manner in which my compressor is engageable with the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical horizontal sectional view through the Wing portion oi my invention.

Fig. 4; is a perspective view oi the bracket portion of my invention and Fig. 5 is a view of the elongated plate by which the wing sections of my compressor are joined.

New for a more detail description of my invention, I refer to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts. For convenience of illustrating my compressin' in position with respect to the music sheet roll, I illustrate a fragmentary portion of a conventional player piano A. The usual compartment B is provided at the front of a piano structure and in which the usual I l Cu 8, 1826. Serial No. 147,197.

spools C are adapted for operation. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the dranings my invention .sed with the upper roll, which in conventional player piano is the rewinding roll.

lily con'ipressor consists ot a bracket plate 1 having an elongated flange the top edge, as at 2, and a substantially shorter flange 3 at the lower edge thereof. As is c. early shown in Fig. athe side edges 01 the plate converge from the end portions oi" the elongated flange to the width of the plate and the. lower flange 3.

The upper flange is formed with transslots adjac the ends thereof. The plate 1 is formed with several opei ings 3 through which screws 7 may be inserted to secure the plate to the back wall of the compartment B.

Adapted. for he upper pi i hinge plate having an opening at each end thereof. A projecting portion of the plate '4" is rolled to provide a hinge part 8 for association with parts to be subsequent described whereby the plates 7', 11 and are hingedly connected together.

The opening at each end of the elongated plate is adapted to register with tie corresponding transverse slot 5 of the bracket so that the bolt 9 may be inserted through ti o opening and plOVldCd with a nut 10, threaded thereon for securing the members in adjusted position.

The ronnpressor further consists of a pair of hinged wing plates 11 and 12 respectively, which are of substantially semi- ,ircular shape in cross section. At the inner longitudinal ed portion of the upper plate 11, loop members 13 are provided substantially inwardly from the end portion thereof. The opposed longitudiinil edge portions of the upper plate is curved upwardly in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawmg.

The lower wing plate is provided at the ends oi? its inner longitudinal edge portion with a pair of loop members 14-. The inner ends of the loop members 1d are adapted to engage the outer ends ot the loop means of the upper wing plate, in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin The inner longitudinal edge of the lower plate is further provided with a pair of intermediate loop members 15 for registry with the hi ge 8 when the 1.310.118 l.

relation with the pin 16, extending through the various loops for connecting the wings together.

The outer longitudinal edge portion of the lower section is curled downwardly in a manner similar to the upwardly curved longitudinal edge of the upper section. Arranged upon the pin 16, and disposed between the opposed ends of the respective loop n'ienibers 13 and 15, is a coiled spring 17. The projecting end portions of said coiled spring are adapted to engage the outer surface of the respective wing sections, whereby the sections will normally be tensionally compressed.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the hinged wing members 11 and 12 respectively, will tightly engage opposed sides of a music sheet roll, C. After the sheet has been spent from the roll, the rewinding of same upon the upper roll with which my compressor is associated, may be done in a quick manner without any liability of the edge portions of the music sheet tearing. The outer longitudinal edge portions of the winged members are curved backwardly in a manner whereby the sheet of music may readily pass thereover, without an liability that the same will become torn.

n assembling my device in position, the plate 1 is secured to the back wall of the compartment B of the conventional player piano. The bottom flange 3 will engage the usual shelf, while the upper flange will be located in a substantially horizontal plane through the center of the roll.

To position the device in proper relation with the roll, the hinge plate 7 may be adjusted to the correct position upon the upper flange of the bracket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a compressor for player piano music rolls, a bracket plate adapted for attachment to IIIIOIIYLlltlOllitl piano structure, a pair of plate members hingedly associated with said bracket plate, said plates being of arcuatc cross section and tensional means associated with said plates for normally maintaining the same in compressed relation with. the music roll disposed therebetween.

2. In a compressor for player piano music rolls, a bracket plate adapted for attachment to a conventional piano structure, said plate being provided with a horizontally disposed flange, a hinge plate adjustable on said flange, and a pair of curved plates hingedly secured to said hinge plate, and tensionai means associated with said hinge connections whereby the curved plates will be normally compressed against the music roll.

VILLIAM LEE PATTON. 

